It's too early to draw conclusions on Derek Kellogg's work with UMass basketball program

Photo by J. Anthony RobertsDerek Kellogg has not always liked what he's seen, but two years is not enough time to start talking about a coaching change.

In that new media world known as the blogosphere, there are some University of Massachusetts bloggers and fans who would like to see Derek Kellogg fired as men's basketball coach, and Al Skinner hired to replace him.

One site even ran a poll after Boston College dumped Skinner in March Of 87 respondents, 68 backed Kellogg, but 19 voted to fire him and bring in Skinner.

I guess to some minds, this makes perfect sense. Kellogg is 24-38 in two years.

Skinner is a former UMass star, an even bigger one than Kellogg, whose hometown discount has probably reached its expiration date.

And Skinner is available, though only because his last school, Boston College, didn't want him anymore.

But we should all get one thing straight. Kellogg is not about to be fired, nor should he be.

I am not going to whitewash Kellogg's record, much as we all like the guy.

Two of his wins were against Division II teams. His team beat Kansas, and beat Memphis when that seemed like a big deal.

But 2009-10 was UMass' first 20-loss season in 27 years. To say the defense has been spotty would be kind.

Any school that hires a coach and does not give him at least three or four years, though, should not have hired him in the first place.

Holy Cross just fired its coach after one year. What did they expect in one year?

Skinner's program was thrown into the ACC, which produced new and ultimately overwhelming competitive and recruiting challenges.

I can't address the knock that he should have worked harder, because I just don't know.

I do know recruiting is a young man's game. Skinner will be 58 in June; four days later, Kellogg will turn 37.

Kellogg is always on the go, even if it sometimes seems his entire team is coming from Baltimore or Washington.

Kellogg has also served two years of a six-year deal. Even if they were so inclined, UMass isn't in financial position to buy out four months of a contract, let alone four years.

No matter. With a young team that has shown promise at times, Kellogg is entitled to more time before the sharpshooters start aiming for his hide.

Skinner is an outstanding man. If there is justice, he will find a new coaching life.

Just because he's available, though, does not mean he would be a good fit at UMass, assuming he'd even want it.

Especially because UMass is at least two years away from even needing to talk about a good fit.

Kellogg deserves more time. Skinner deserves another opportunity.

One will get it, the other should. Mixing their worlds might make for a good blog, but does not account for the reality at UMass, whether a campus legend from a bygone generation is on the market or not.